Stapling machine



Dec, 19, 1944. F. MUSKE 2,365,429

STAPLING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1939 2S Sheets5heet l J'nvenfor:

Dec. 19, 1944-. F. MUSKE STAPLING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q80. 19, MUSKE 2,355,429

STAPLING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1Z7 fave/vim: V U 38 W Patented Dec. 19, 1944 I 2,365,429 STAPLING MACHINE Franz Muske, Bremen-Sebaldsbruck, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application May .31, 1939, Serial No. 276,724 In Germany August 13, 1937 Claims.

This invention relates to wire stapling machines of the type in which a continuous length of wire is fed to the machine and is bent and cut to form individual staples, which are then inserted into the workpiece.

An object of the invention is to provide a ma chine of this typewhich is flexible and versatile in operation, so that the size of the staples and angular orientation at which they are inserted into the workpiece can be varied by a quick and simple adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of improved construction with a plurality of stapling heads. in which the staples can be inserted longitudinally; that is, in. line with the row of stapling heads.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine with a plurality of stapling heads in which the positions of the individual heads can be independently and easily varied to suit requirements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stapling machine. of generally improved construction, which shall be robust and efficient in operation.

Broadly stated, in my invention I employ a. stapling head in which the staple can be rotated after being formed and beforebeing inserted, so that it can be formed in one: plane and inserted in another. In this; way it is possible to employ stapling heads placed very much more closely together than was previously possible when stapling longitudinally; It is: also possible to adjustthe orientation at which the staples are inserted to suit requirements.

These and other advantages which result from my invention will be more fully understood from the description which follows, in which one particular form of stapling machine is described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front, view of the. machine;

Figure 2 isa section on the line A-A in Fi ure Figure 2A isa detail view ofcam 22' and associated cam levers;.

Figure 3is a longitudinal section through a. former and driver shown on a larger scale;

Figure 41isa similar view to F-igure 3, showing the former inanother position;

Figure dis a similar view, showing the position: of the parts just before the staple is driven in;

Figure-6 is the same view as Figure 5, showing the device when used. for. transverse stapling;

Figure '7 is a section on the line 3-3 in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a section on the line CC in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a section on the line D-D in Figure 5;

Figure 10 shows a staple after it has been bent to shape.

The frame of the machine comprises two upright members 2,2, supported on a base plate I and joined by a transverse member 3, on which the stapling heads 4 are slidably mounted. A table 5, which is arranged below the staplingheads 4, can be adjusted in height by means of a hand wheel 6. The workpiece into which the staples are to be inserted is placed upon the table 5.

Two driving plates I and 8 are mounted above the transverse member 3 so that they can slide vertically between the two uprights 2, 2". The plate 1 is provided with a groove 9, and the plate 8 with a groove. [0. The plate I is provided at. its upper end and on .each side with lugs H, H, which are pivotally connected to the links, l2, 12. The links I2, I 2, are in turn pivotally connected to the levers l3, l3, the other ends of which are held on a shaft I4 which is rotatably mounted in the uprights 2, 2'. The driving plate 8 is provided with lugs l5, I5" corresponding to the lugs H, H". These lugs are connected through links l6, IE, to levers l1, I1, which are also mounted on the shaft l4.

Guiderollers' l8 and H are respectively attached to levers l3, l3, and l1, l1, and engage the cam tracks 20 or 2 l' as the case may be, which are provided in the cam plates 22 and 22' (see Fig.2).

The cam plates 22 and 22 are secured to a shaft 23, on which is secured an arm 24 (see Figs, 1 and 2). This arm is coupled by means of a rod 25 to a crank 26 on the shaft 21:. A clutch device 28 is arranged on the shaft 21 and is provided with a control member 29. A gear wheel 30, which is rotatable about the clutch device 28, meshes with a pinion 31, which is secured to the driving shaft 32,. which is in turndriven by a pulley 33 which can be brought into or out of engagement bymeans of a clutch- 35 operated by a hand lever 34.

The control member 29 can. be released by" means of a footlever 36. Thiscausesthe clutch 28 to come into engagement sothat the gear wheel 30 rotates the shaft 21- through one revolution. On completion of one: revolution, provided that the foot lever 36, has in the meantime been released, the control member 25 again comes into operation to interrupt the drive between the gear Wheel 30 and the shaft 27.

Each stapling head comprises a cylinder 37 (as best shown in Figure 3) in which a former 38 can reciprocate. The former 38 is provided with a head 39 which is held by, out rotatable in, the groove E of the driving plate 3. The former is also provided with a slot til, the lower part of which runs axially whilst the upper part is spiral in form. A roller 4! runs in the slot ti? and is secured in a slot 52 in the cylinder 3?. 38 at its lower end is provided with a further slot 43. This slot is reinforced on either side by means of inserts 45, which are hardened on their outer surfaces and in which axial grooves 55 are formed. The driver of the stapling head is in the form of a member 46 which can reciprocate between the inserts t5 and the driven end of which passes out through the former 38 and carries a head t? which is held by, but rotatable in, the groove 9 of the driving plate 7. The lower end of the driver is provided with longitudinal ribs 55, which run in the grooves of the inserts M. A staple support 49 is mounted in the groove $3 of the former 38 so as to rock about an axis 5 3. Th lower and longer half of this support is broadened to the shape shown, and the upper and shorter half is acted on by a spring 5!. A cavity 52 in the lower part of the inner wall of the cylinder 57 exerts a cam action on the upper part of the support 49 during the downward movement of the former A catch 53 is rotatably mounted on the cylinder 31 and has a curved nose which enters the slot 43 and a rear end which coacts with an abutment 54, the height of which can be adjusted by means of a turn buckle 85. The catch 53 is arranged at the fixed cylinder 5? and can only turn around its own rigid axis 53a (Figs. 3 to 5). The abutment 5% is reciprocated vertically by a means similar to members 7 or 8 for the vertical reciprocation o-f members 55 and 33 previously described (Fig. 2). In other words, the operating means for abutment 55 comprises a driving plate 8a, a set of driving links 35, levers 81, stud pivots rollers 85 and cam slots 55, there being a cam slot 90 provided in each cam plate 22 and-22 and be ing suitably shaped to rotate the catches 53 in the proper manner in synchronism with the operation of the other parts of the machine. In the position according to Fig. 3, the catch 53 is blocked in its horizontal position by the abutment 543. In this position, the staple 53 may be bent over the inner projection of the catch, In the position ac cording to Fig. 5, the catch is set free so that the former 38 can turn freely in an axial direction.

As shown in Figure 2, each stapling head carries a rearwardly extending arm 55 on which a reel 56 is mounted. The reel 55 may be axially alined, or mounted one above the other as shown in Fig. 2 as desired. A wire 51, which unwinos from the reel, is cut up and bent to form the staples of the shape shown in Figure 15 under the reference numeral A bracket 59 is arranged below the'arm 55 and carries several rolls it and. a feeding mechanism Bi which grips the wire advances it bit by bit. A cutting device 52 is located in front of the feeding mechanism iii and comprises a lower fixed blade and an upper mo ing blade. Channels 5?! are provided in the cylinder 3'5 and lie in the direction of the wire. An abutment fi l is arranged in front of these channels and its position can be adjusted by means of the screw 55 in accordance with the desired length of the end of wire which is to be out 01f.

The wire feeding mechanism 6! is driven by The former means of an arm 66 which is splined to the shaft 67, which is journaled in the uprights 2, 2. One end of this shaft carries a crank 68 connected to a rod 69. In order to be able to adjust the stroke of the feeding mechanism, the crank 58 is pro- Vided with a slot, in which the position of the end of the rod 59 is adjustable. The other end of the rod 59 is secured to a cam plate ll (Figs. 1 and 2) driven by clutch plates 12, 72 which form a friction coupling. The plates 12, i2, are carried on the shaft 23.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The requisite number of stapling heads 4 are mounted on the transverse member 3 at the desired intervals, the heads 39 of the formers 38 being inserted in the groove Ii! of the driving plate 8 and the heads 47 of the drivers 46 being inserted in the groove 9 of the driving plate '3'. The table 5 carrying the workpiece into which the staples are to be inserted is then adjusted to the required height. If longitudinal stapling is required, i. e.. if the staples are to be inserted in the workpiece in a vertical plane parallel to the front of the machine, the position of the roller ll is adjusted until it approximates to that shown in Figure 3.

To begin the stapling operation, the foot lever 35 is depressed, which releases the control member 29, so that the shaft 21 and the crank 25 rotate through one complete revolution. The drive is transferred by means of the rod 25 and the arm 2 2- to the cam plates 22 and 22', which rock the levers i5, i3 and IT, ll, in accordance with the contours of their cam tracks 28 and 25. This causes the driving plates 7 and 8 to undergo a corresponding movement, so that the formers 33 and, independently, the drivers 46 of all the stapling heads are simultaneously driven. If the initial position shown in Figure 3, an end of wire which has already been cut on", lies symmetrically across the nose of the catch 53. The former 38 is now pressed downwards into the position shown in Figure 4;, during which movement the projecting ends of wire are engaged by the inserts M and bent downwards, the two bent ends which form the two limbs of the staple lying in the grooves 15 of the inserts.

So far the position of the catch 53 has been determined by the abutment 54, and no rotation of the former 33 has taken place. The abutment 5G is now removed, as a result of the roller 89 riding upon a high portion in cam slot 951, which causes the catch 53 to move clear of the former 38 (as shown in Figure 5) and during further downward movement of the former 38 the support 49 rocks into the slot 43 between the limbs of the staple which are lying in the grooves 45. This movement of the support 49 occurs automatically as a result of the short upper end of the support entering the cavity 52 under the action of the spring 5i. During this further downward movement of the former 38 the roller 4| enters the spiral part of the slot it and thus causes the former 38 to rotate through 90. On completion of this operation, the former 3B is in the position shown in Figures 5 and 9, in which the staple has rotated through 90 from its original position.

The staple 53 is n'owinserted by means of the driver 45, which is forced downwards at this point. During this operation, the support 49 is deflected sideways. On completion of the stapling operation, all the parts return to their initial position and the drive is interrupted by means of the foot lever 35.

If transverse stapling is required, i. e., if the staples are to be inserted in a vertical plane at right angles to the front of the machine, the position of the roller 4| is adjusted to that shown in Figure 6, where the roller is fixed at the bottom of the slit 42 so that during the stroke of the former 38 the roller does not enter the spiral part of the slot 40. Thus, no rotation of the former 38 takes place, so that the staple is inserted without alteration in its orientation, 1. e., while lying in a vertical plane at right angles to the front of the machine.

By appropriate adjustment of the roller 4| in the slot 42 any desired orientation of the staple can be achieved. As can be clearly seen from Figures 3 to 6, it is perfectly easy to arrange for the staple to be rotated through more than'90 by continuing the spiral slot further.

It is clear that by using the machine described many advantages are obtained. It is possible to staple longitudinally while using a large number of stapling heads arranged close together, so as to give a stitching effect. This was impossible with previous continuous wire fed mchines, since the wire feeding mechanisms prevented the heads from being placed close together when stapling longitudinally. Other obvious advantages result from being able to adjust the number and position of the stapling heads and the orienta tion at which the staples are inserted, in such an easy and simple manner.

Many variations and modifications can be made in the preferred construction just described, without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not intend the scope of the invention to be limited except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stapler comprising an operating head, means for feeding a continuous length of wire to said operating head, means for cutting pieces of equal length from the end of said Wire, means for successively bending each piece to form a staple, means for rotating said staple through a predetermined angle, means for inserting the staple into a workpiece brought into operative relationship with said stapler, and adjusting means for varying said predetermined angle through which said staple is rotated.

2. A stapler comprising an operating head consisting in a hollow cylinder, means for feeding a continuous length of wire to said operating head in a direction transverse to the axis of said cylinder, means for cutting pieces of equal length from the end of said wire, a former arranged to reciprocate in said cylinder and adapted to engage in turn each of said pieces of wire and to bend it to form a staple, means for rotating said former together with said staple relatively to said cylinder through a predetermined angle aboutthe axis of said cylinder, means for inserting the staple into a workpiece brought into operative relationship with said stapler, said means for rotating said former relative to said cylinder comprising an oblique cam slot cut in the surface of said former and a roller secured to said cylinder and engaging said cam slot, whereby axial movement of said former in said cylinder may bring about the desired rotation, and in which adjusting means are provided for varying the predetermined angle through which said former is rotated, said means comprising an axial slot in the surface of the cylinder and means for securing theroller to any desired point in the slot.

3. A stapling machine for inserting simultaneously a plurality of staples, comprising a plurality of stapling heads, means for feeding a continuous length of wire to each of said heads, means for cutting pieces of equal length from the end of said wire, means for rotating each of said staples through a predetermined angle, means for inserting each of said staples into a workpiece brought into operative relationship with said machine, a first driving member and a second driving member, and in which the forming means in each stapling head is driven by said first driving member and the inserting means in each stapling head is driven by said second driving member.

4. A stapling machine for inserting simultaneously a plurality of staples, comprising a plurality of stapling heads, means for feeding a continuous length of wire to each of said heads, means for cutting pieces of equal length from the end of said wire, means for rotating each of said staples through a predetermined angle, means for inserting each of said staples into a workpiece brought into operative relationship with said machine, a first driving member and a second driving memher, and in which the forming means in each stapling head is driven by said first driving member and the inserting means in each stapling head is driven by said second driving member, and adjusting means for varying the predetermined angle through which said staple is rotated. I

5. A stapler comprising an operating head, means for feeding a length of wire to said operating head, means for bending said wire to form a staple, means for rotating said staple through a predetermined angle, means for inserting said staple into a work piece brought into operative relationship with said stapler and adjusting means for varying said predetermined angle through which said staple is rotated.

FRANZ MUSKE. 

